1| STATE OF OKLAHOMA | | | 2| 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) | | | 3|SENATE BILL 938 By: Jett | | | 4| | | | 5| | | | 6| AS INTRODUCED | | | 7| An Act relating to schools; creating the Time Release | | Educational Credit Act (TRECA); providing short | 8| title; defining term; allowing a school district | | board of education to implement certain policy; | 9| providing criteria for participation in certain | | released time; requiring promulgation of rules that | 10| include certain provisions; providing for attendance | | of certain students; providing for transportation; | 11| prohibiting certain participation in lieu of | | participation in certain course of instruction; | 12| providing for codification; providing an effective | | date; and declaring an emergency. | 13| | | | 14| | | | 15|BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: | | | 16| SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified | | | 17|in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 11-103.6p of Title 70, unless | | | 18|there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: | | | 19| A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Time | | | 20|Release Educational Credit Act" (TRECA). | | | 21| B. As used in this act, "released time" means a period of time | | | 22|during a school day when a student is allowed to participate in an | | | 23|elective course in religious instruction conducted by a private | | | 24|entity off school district property. | | | Req. No. 1626 Page 1 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| C. A school district board of education may implement a policy | | | 2|allowing a student to attend released time as an elective course if | | | 3|the following criteria are met: | | | 4| 1. The parent or legal guardian of the student provides written | | | 5|consent; | | | 6| 2. The religious curriculum of the elective course does not | | | 7|undeniably promote licentiousness or practices that are inconsistent | | | 8|with the peace and safety of this state; | | | 9| 3. The private entity conducting the religious instruction | | | 10|makes provisions for and assumes liability for the student during | | | 11|released time; | | | 12| 4. No public funds shall be expended to provide released time; | | | 13|and | | | 14| 5. No school district personnel are involved in providing | | | 15|religious instruction. | | | 16| D. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to | | | 17|implement the provisions of this act including rules providing for | | | 18|elective course credit to be granted to a student who participates | | | 19|in released time pursuant to the provisions of this act and minimum | | | 20|standards for attendance necessary to qualify for the elective | | | 21|course credit. Elective course credit granted pursuant to this | | | 22|subsection shall not exceed credit given for any other elective | | | 23|course offered by a school district. | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 1626 Page 2 ___________________________________________________________________________
1| E. A student who participates in released time pursuant to this | | | 2|act shall be considered in attendance while participating in | | | 3|religious instruction. | | | 4| F. Transportation to and from the released time location shall | | | 5|be provided by the private entity providing religious instruction | | | 6|off school district property, the parent or legal guardian of the | | | 7|participating student, or the participating student. | | | 8| G. A student shall not be permitted to participate in released | | | 9|time in lieu of participation in a course of instruction, the | | | 10|subject of which is included on assessments administered pursuant to | | | 11|Section 1210.508 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. | | | 12| SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. | | | 13| SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation | | | 14|of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby | | | 15|declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and | | | 16|be in full force from and after its passage and approval. | | | 17| | | | 18| 59-1-1626 EB 1/19/2023 12:08:07 PM | | | 19| | | | 20| | | | 21| | | | 22| | | | 23| | | | 24| | | | Req. No. 1626 Page 3